Seven killed, three injured in coal mine accident in China

An underground transport accident occurred at the Fengchun coal mine in Chongqing

Seven workers were killed and three were injured in the accident

China’s coal mine safety watchdog launched inspections of mines across the country in October to improve safety conditions

BEIJING, China - The latest in a series of tragic accidents inside a coal mine in China on Saturday, reignited the debate over poor safety conditions inside the country's mines.

China, which is the worlds largest producer of coal, has been subject to sharp criticism over the increasing number of coal mine accidents in the country, that has led to the death of several workers over the years.

On Saturday, seven workers were killed and three others were injured after an underground transport accident at a coal mine in Chinas southwestern city of Chongqing.

According to China's state-owned Xinhua news agency, the accident occurred at the Fengchun coal mine under the Chongqing Energy Group in the Chongqing municipality.

It noted that the accident took place when the connecting segment of a mining skip broke, which led it to slide down the inclined shaft.

The state news agency said that all the seven miners killed were working in the shaft.

Officials said that three miners suffered injuries in the accidents and were immediately rushed to a hospital nearby.

Following the accident, the Chongqing Energy Group suspended operations at all of its coal mines.

'Deadliest in the world'

China's mining industry has earned the status of being one the deadliest in the world.

Saturday's accident took place merely months after eight miners were killed at a coal mine in Yuncheng county of Shangdong province.